Visualization of SharePoint list data as a PowerBI report is already available with few button clicks. This awesome functionality is now extended to Document libraries in SharePoint. How cool is that! Business users do not have to rely on admins to generate reports on their content.
Power is now transitioned in to the hands of business users. Similar to integration that is available with Lists, document library visualization experience is also inbuilt in the UI. Users doesn’t need to leave the page. This report visualizes metadata for files and folders created at library level. If you organize your content in the form of folders several levels deep, you are out of luck with this feature. It can only analyze metadata for file and folders at the top level of library. Files inside of folders are not represented in the report. Another subtle hint to not use of folders for organizing content, instead use metadata to organize your files.
Here is how to visualize document library data
- Open the library in browser.
- Select Integrate -> PowerBI -> Visualize the library in top menu.
That’s it! An insightful report is generated.
This report includes basic metrics to get you started. You can add more visuals or update existing ones. After you are done updating your report, you can publish it back to the library.
Important considerations:
- Reports generated following this approach are not available from PowerBI service.
- This report is accessible only from the library from which it is generated.
Library -> Menu -> Integrate -> PowerBI -> Name of report
- By default it will be shared with everyone who has access to the library.
License:
PowerBI Pro license is required for sharing reports with others.
With PowerBI free license user can use this feature to analyze data in library but to publish to share or edit the report. Get more information about PowerBI licensing and capabilities here.
Follow this article from Microsoft to know more about this feature.
